Coronavirus / COVID-19 Update 3/15/2020

We are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation and following the recommendations of experts at local, state and federal levels on the best course of action.

For the health of our visitors and volunteers, we are making temporary changes to how we operate:

All visitors will be asked to remain in the parking lot.

Only volunteers will be allowed in the pantry until further notice.

Food will be delivered curbside in grocery bags that have already been packed and prepared. Unfortunately, there will be no option to choose specific items.

New visitors will be asked to provide the minimum information needed; a more complete intake may be done by phone or at a later date as needed.

We are following our usual schedule of Tuesday & Thursday mornings and first & third Wednesday evenings.

At present we have plenty of food, but as always we do rely on donations to keep our cupboards full. The best way you can help us is to make a monetary donation so we can get the specific items we need. If you do have nonperishable food to donate, before you stop by, please let us know and make an appointment in advance. Donors must also remain outside the pantry for the present time.

We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and following the recommendations of health experts at local, state and federal levels on the best course of action. We are making some changes to how we operate, and will post updates as needed.

For general information about COVID-19 (also called Coronavirus), Mainers can call 211Maine or go online to get answers to common questions and speak to trained operators. Information can also be found >> on the Maine CDC site.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), otherwise known as the Senior Food Box Program, distributes food boxes to improve the health of seniors with low income. Boxes contain supplemental foods such as nonfat dry milk and/or UHT milk, cheese, cereal, juice, peanut butter, rice, pasta, canned meat, fruits and vegetables. The boxes are available to eligible seniors once a month. Click to see list of what's in the box.

Application Forms are available at the pantry, or download the form and send it to Project GRACE at PO Box 6846, Scarborough, ME 04070 or to Wayside Foods at P.O. Box 1278, Portland, ME 04104.

To qualify you must:

Be 60 years of age or older

Live in Cumberland, Oxford or York County (contact Wayside for referrals for other counties).

Meet income eligibility requirements

Volunteers make it work - thank you!

Packing the boxes, transporting the boxes, stacking the boxes, and delivering the boxes: many hands make this project work! Plus there are the volunteers who make the calls, copy the forms and mail the forms, and send the reminder cards. For all we are grateful!

Thank you, Scarborough Kiwanis -- we are very grateful for the dozens of turkeys provided to make the holidays more festive for our patrons. Proceeds from Kiwanis' annual FIshing Derby held in the Spring fund this effort. The money raised was stretched even further, thanks to help from the school nutrition program which bought the turkeys at a discount. Thank you!

Thank you, Scarborough Kiwanis -- we are very grateful for the dozens of turkeys provided to make the holidays more festive for our patrons. Proceeds from Kiwanis' annual FIshing Derby held in the Spring fund this effort. The money raised was stretched even further, thanks to help from the school nutrition program which bought the turkeys at a discount. This collaboration came about thanks to a conversation sparked at the Food for Thought & Action Forum this past September.

Gardeners from all over town brought us their bounty, from the first tang of chives to the luscious juicy tomatoes, all season long. We're thankful for all the fresh produce shared with our neighbors, more than a 1,000 pounds in all!

Save the Date: Tues. March 28th

Please join us on Tuesday, March 28th because the 'need to feed' is on the rise and our neighbors count on our help to put healthy food on the table. There are still unmet needs, opportunities for us to do more.

The Scarborough Food Pantry, Project GRACE and friends are convening a working forum because we have a few ideas and want to hear yours, because we are stronger together.

WOW! Thank you! Our Scarborough neighbors donated more than a 1,000 (!!) boxes of staple foods, including 150 boxes purchased by Project GRACE. The "Hannaford Helps' boxes have an assortment of items, including peanut butter. They cost $10 each: an astounding $10,000 of food was delivered to the pantry this holiday season. Thank you!